Caroline's Spine Sullivan
Its not hard to reach back to the day
underneath an Iowa sun
running to the tower of Waterloo
looking for the Sullivan train to come
His five boys would run to the top and salute him as he went
by
first he'd wave hello, and then we'd wave goodbye.
Its not hard to reach back to the days
after the attack on Pearl
and overnight my buddies turned into men
running out of time for games and girls.
The Sullivan boys were not overlooked
Uncle Sam called them each by name.
The very next day they left on a mystery train.
"...we regret to inform you,
the Navy has taken your sons away..." all five...
so put your blue star in the window.
It's not hard to reach back to here smile
when she'd receive a letter.
The letters sounded generally the same it said
if they couldn't be home at least they were together
on a mighty fighting battleship,
somewhere in the south pacific.
The letters never got much more specific.
Say goodbye Mrs. Sullivan and don't you cry
"...we regret to inform you
that the Navy is keeping your sons away" all five...
so keep your blue star in the window.
It's nothard to reach back to the day the war finally came
home
Uncle Sam will send you a telegram,
so he doesn't have to tell you over the phone.
I heard she cracked up when she found what the war had cost.
All five of her boys were lost.
Say goodbye Mrs. Sullivan don't you cry.
"...we regret to inform you all your sons have passed away."
All five...
So change your blue star to gold.